By Greg Steiner
The Eastern Michigan University men’s golf team has its sights set on another Mid-American Conference championship in 2022, as a veteran-led club returns for 29th-year Head Coach Bruce Cunningham.
Led by the tandem of seniors Ty Celone and Cougar Collins, the Eagles return four starters from a season ago. Collins, a second-team All-MAC honoree in 2021, recorded an average of 74.3 in 24 rounds. Meanwhile, Celone is just off the school’s career scoring pace with an average of 73.4 in 93 all-time rounds.
Junior Zack Mason hopes to build upon a pair of top-10 showings in 2020-21, while freshman MJ Smith saw action in every tournament last year with an average of 76.8. After winning the 2021 Ohio Amateur, redshirt freshman Max Watson looks to secure the final spot in the lineup as do freshman Patrick Deardorff, junior transfer Cam Kellett, and senior Blaise Vanitvelt.
Eastern Michigan opens the season in Madison, Wis., at the Badger Invitational, Sept. 26-28.
Youth will continue to be served for the Eastern Michigan University women’s golf team, as fourth-year Head Coach Stephanie Jennings’ roster features eight underclassmen. The youthful group finished the 2020-21 campaign with the 16th lowest team scoring average in program history and a trio of top-five showings.
Sophomore Olivia Loberg looks to continue to lead after notching an average of 75.7 in 18 rounds last year. Redshirt freshman Anna Watson (78.7), Sophia Wygonik (81.0), Paige Zolciak (83.8), and Tatyana Nyambane (85.9) all saw significant time in the lineup during the COVID-shortened season.
EMU will welcome back junior Natai Apichonlati after she remained in Thailand while the University was on a mostly online class model. The Bangkok, Thailand native has 40 career rounds with an average of 78.4.
Hoping to crack the lineup will be newcomers Adeline Lau, Kyleigh Dull, and Amaya Melendez.
Eastern Michigan opens the 2021-22 season at the Cardinal Classic, Sept. 20-21. However, the date to highlight will be Oct. 4-5, when the program hosts the annual Shirley Spork EMU Invitational at Eagle Crest Golf Club.
